Friction device.



L. H. BROOME. FRICTION DEVICE. APPLIGATION FILED PEB.19, 190s.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. H. BROOME. FRICTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.19, 1906.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

awueutoz W LEWISH. BROOME, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

FRICTION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Application filed February 19, 1906. Serial No. 301,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS H. BnooME, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Jersey (.ity, in the county of lludson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FrictionDevices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to friction devices of that class in whichone member moves relative to another under a stress caused byintermediate frictional surfaces.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character,which will be simple in construction, durable, of very light weight andsmall dimensions; relative to its capaci y, and of convenient form foradaptation for use with various structures.

In the present drawings which form part of this specification, I show itcombined with a shock absorber for use on automobiles, to illustrate howthe device operates.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1. is an exterior view of the casingof the device. Fig. 2. is a vertical sectional view of the same anddisclosing the friction disks therein. Fig. 3. is a sectional view ofthe cap. Fig. 4. is a plan view of one of the friction disks and Fig. 5.is a plan view of another form of disk which is arranged in the casingalternately with the first nameddisk. Fig. 6. is an exterior view of thescrew which is used as a gaging and locking means in adjusting thepressure between the disks. Fig. 7. is a cross sectional view of the capof the casing taken on line Z--Z of Fig. 2, and illustrates itsadaptation to a shock absorber when used on an automobile, and Fig. 8.is across sec- .tional view of the casing on line XX of .Fig. 2, showingthe disk illustrated in Fig. 5.

in position in the casing.

- A indicates the casing of the device which is made of any materialsuitable for the purpose, such as iron, brass, hard rubber, etc.,depending upon the use to which the device is to be put. For the purposeillustrated I prefer iron or brass. 1n the present case the casing A isprovided with projecting member A located at its base, but this membermaybe connected to any part of the casing to adapt it to any particularuse; it is also provided with one or more vertical grooves a-a-aa, seeFig. 8. which extend the entire length of the casing here shown, "andthese grooves are spaced apart ,at equal distances, where more than oneis The dis is E are provided with a circular opening E to allow the saiddisks to slip over the upper end of the core piece B, the bottom ofwhich forms a flange, as shown in Fig. 7 by means of which the device isfastened to the frame G of the automobile.

The outer periphery of the disks F form an unbroken circle but the diskis provided with an opening F into which the pro ect1ons f-ff-f enter,and these projections are adapted to fit into corresponding groovesformed in the sides of the core piece B and indicated by bbb b. Theupper end of the core piece B is formed with a cylindrical bore H whichis threaded with a left hand thread into which the lower end of thescrew 1) fits, and the outer upper end of the core piece B is providedwith a right hand thread which engages with the thread C formed in thecap C. The cap C is also provided with a circular openin C through whichthe to end of the screw l) passes, and the screw is provided with a nut11, whi 1 after it is adjusted is permanently fastened to the screw D.The screw D is not fitted ti ht in the cap C but has a certain amount oftravel up and down in the cap C for a puroose hereinafter described. Thecap C is further provided with an annular groove C in which is I, whichabuts the located a helical sprin under side of the ca at one end andthe top of the upper dis at its lower end, and by screwing the cap C upor down on the core piece B, a corresponding pressure will be exertedupon the pile of disks, which are ar ranged one above the other, thedisks E and F alternating and their respective projections engaging withthe wal ol' the casing and the core )iece B respectively.

It will be p ain to those skilled in the art, that if n'essure isapplied to the top of the pile of disks by means Of tlIO cap C, thedisks will be pressed together, and since each alternate disk is, heldby the casing and core piece respectively, the uisks F and .15 must moverelative to each other in opposite directions, and therefore it followsthat the greater the pressure between the surfaces of the disks, thegreater the friction will be between them and the harder it will be tomove the core piece relative to the casing. Now the friction may beincreased by adding more disks or b increasin their diameter or tancebetween .the under side of the nut d and the upper end of the threadedportion of the screw on the lower end of the screw D, and the threadbeing left handed, it is evident that it will screw into the core B whenturned in one direction which would screw the cap in the o positedirection if rotated on its ri ht han thread in the same direction. T 'sarrangement provides a means for preventing the cap from unscrewing fromthe core B, since the pitch of the threads on the core B and ca C arealso different, and what'would tend to unscrew one would tighten theother. sembling these parts, the screw D is screwed intothe core piece Buntil the cap thread C starts to screw on the endof the core piece, whenthe cap is screwed on the core as far as the movement provided for it totravel over the end of the screw D, and when this limit is reached, thescrew D is screwed forward again to the limiting distance, and when thecap is again turned, until the spring I is depressed to the desireddegree, when by screwing down the screw D until the nut. d locks on thetop of the cap, the whole is firmly secured and cannot unscrewaccidentally. Where very great friction is re- I quired between thedisks, the

spring I may be dispensed with and the top of the cap is screweddirectly on the disks to the desired de ree.

Ibe device may be changed in its form and the casing used as a pulley ifdesired where it is necessary to entirely revolve the casing around thecore in use, without departing from the sco e of my invention, whichconsists primar' y in arranging a number of surfaces in contact in sucha manner that they must move in opposite directions to each other, andmeans for controlling the degree of gressure between the surfaces.

ne of the uses to which the device is adapted is shown and the operationis as follows :-The arm A is connected to the arm J by apivot K, and thearm J is connected to the base of the spring and axle of the vehicle bya pivot L. G is the frame of the vehicle which is supported by the sprinM v i at its ends, which are not shown, but wilI be easily understood bythose skilled in the art. N 0w when the vehicle travels over unevenground, the body or frame G moves relative Now in asto the axle N, andin case of a sudden hard bounce, the friction between the disks preventthe shock which would otherwise follow, by taking up the same in movingrelative to each other as the axle and frame are forced toward and apartfrom each other, as will be readily understood.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2, that a circular boss B, ispresented between the core and its base flange, said boss being oflarger diameter than the core. The opening in the inner end of thecasing is of such dimensions .thatsaid casing snugly swivels on saidboss with one face in direct contact with the base flange, the resultbeing that the easing end and base flange largely contribute to thefrictional function of the device. 'OpeningsQ, R, in the arms A, J,admit of varyingtheir connection by shifting thepivot K, and

thereby adapting the invention for application to vehicles where thedistance between the connections such as that on the bar G, and pointswhere the springs are connected, differ.

I do not wish to limit myself to the specific form shown but reserve tomyself all forms which come fairly withing'the scope of the invention. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a friction device of the character described, the combination witha plurality of elements one parallel with the other and presentingjuxtaposed friction surfaces, of means for preventing said elements frommoving in the same direction relative to each other, and means adaptedto exert either a yielding or a positive pressure on the elements.

2. In a friction device of the character described, the combination witha plurality of elements one parallel with the other and presentingjuxtaposed friction surfaces, of

means for preventing said elements from moving in the same directionrelative to each other, an adjustable cap having a portion forpositively bearing against the contiguous element, and a springinterposed between the cap and said contiguous element, the arrangementbeing such that the cap can be adjusted to exert either a yielding or apositive pressure on the elements.

3. In a friction device of the character described, thecombination of acasing and a core relatively revoluble with respect to each other, aplurality of parallel disks within said casing and presenting juxtaposedfriction surfaces, one of the disks being engaged with the casing andthe other with the core, and means adapted to exert either a yielding ora positive pressure on said disks.

4. In a friction device of the character described, the combination of acasing and a threaded core relatively revoluble with respect to eachother, a plurality of parallel disks within said casing and presentingjuxtaposed friction surfaces, one of the disks being engaged with thecasing and the other with the core, a cap adjustably engaged with thecore threads and having a portion for positively bearing against thecontiguous disk, and a spring interposed between said cap and saidcontiguous disk, the arrangement being such that the cap can headjustedto exert either a'yielding or a positive pressure on said disks.

5. In a friction device of the character described, the combination of acasing and a threaded core relatively revoluble with respect to eachother, a plurality of parallel disks within said casing and presentingjuxtaposed friction surfaces, one of the disks being engaged with thecasing and the other with the core, a cap having concentric portions forpositively bearing against the contiguous disk and forming anintermediate annular space, the inner bearing portion of the cap beingthreaded to engage the core threads for the adjustment of the cap, and aspring located within said. annular space and bearing against thecontiguous disk, the arrangement being such-that the cap can be adjustedto exert either a yielding or a positive pressure on said disks.

6. In a friction device of the character described, the combination of acasing and a threaded core relatively revoluble with respect to eachother, a plurality of parallel diskswithin the casing and presentingjuxtaposed friction surfaces, one of the disks being engaged with thecasing and the other with the core, a cap closing he casing andadjustably engaged with the core threads, a spring subject tocompression by the cap and bearing against the contiguous disk, andmeans for preventing the accidental unscrewing of the cap.

7. In a friction device of the character (lo-.

scribed, the combination of a casing and a threaded core =relativelyrevoluble with respeet to each other, a plurality of parallel diskswithin the casing and presenting juxtaposed friction surfaces, one ofthe disks being engaged with the casing and the other with the core, acap adjustably engaged with the core threads and having a portion forpositively bearing against the contiguous disk, a spring interposedbetween said cap and contiguous disk and subject to compression by thecap, and means for preventing the accidental unscrewing of the cap.

8. Ina friction devicb of the character described, the combination ofrelatively fixed and revoluble parts presenting a casing and a core, aplurality of parallel disks within the casing and having juxtaposedfriction surfaces, one of said disks being engaged with the casing andthe other withthe core, a cap ad ustab y engaged with one of said partsto close the casing, and a spring subject to adjustable compression bythe cap and bearing against the contiguous disk.

9. In a friction device of the character described, the combination witha core havin a base flange, of a casing bearing at oneend against saidbase flange, said core and easing being relatively rovoluble withrespect to each other, a plurality ol parallel disks within the casingand presenting juxtaposed friction surfaces, one of the disks beingengaged with the casing and the other with the core, and means 1" orexerting either a yielding or a positive pressure on said disks andeasing end, against the base flange.

H). in a friction device of the character described, the combinationwith a core having a base flange, of a casing bearingat one end againstsaid flange, said core and easing bcing relatively revoluble withrespect to each other, a plurality of parallel disks Within the casingand presenting juxtaposed friction surfaces, one of the disks engagedwith the casing and the other with the core, an adjustable cap having aportion for positively bearing against the contiguous disk, and a springinterposed between the ca and said contiguous disk, the arrangement)eing such that the cap can be adjusted to exert either a yielding or apositive pressure on the disks and easing end against the base flange.

1 l. in a friction device of the character described, the cmnbinationwith a threaded core having a base flange, of a casing hearing at oneand against said flange, said core and easing being relatively revolublewith 're spect to each other, a plurality of parallel disks within thecasing and presenting juxtaposed friction surfaces, one of the disksbeing engaged with the casing and the other with the core, a cap havingconcentric portions for positively bearing against the contiguous diskand forming an intermediate annular space, the inner bearing port-ion ofthe cap being threaded to engage the core threads for the adjustment ofthe cap, and a spring located within said annular space and bearingagainst the contiguous disk, the arrangement being such that the cap canbe adjusted to exert either a yielding or a positive pres-. sure on thedisks and easing end against the base flange.

12. In a friction device of the character described, the combinationwith a threaded core having a base flange, of a casing hearing at oneand against said flange, said core and easing being relativelyr'evoluble with respect to each other, a plurality of parallel diskswithin the casing and presenting juxtaposed friction surfaces, one ofthe disks being engaged with the casing and the other with the core, acap ad ustably engaged with the core threads and having a portion forpositively bearing against the contiguous disk, a

spring interposed between the cap and said said core piece -when turneciin one direction, 25

to screw into said core piece when turned in cap is turned, -for thepiece vhen turned in one direction, a thread contiguous disk, and meansfor prevents; the accidental unscrewing of the cap.

13. The combination with a friction dcvice comprising reiativciy tiredand revoluble parts, the fixed par-t adapted for securement to the bodyof a vehicle and the revclw blc part havingn projecting arm containing aplurality of perforations, of a second containing a plurality ofperforations and pivoted at one totlle first mentioned arm, and at theother end to a connection with the vehicle running gear.

.4. A casing provided with a number of grooves, a core piece providedwith a number. of grooves, a series of slates, some of which haveprojections wl ich enter the grooves in the casing and some of whichhave projections which enter the grooves in th. core piece, one of eachof said plates connected to said casing being connected. in frictionalengagement with one of said disks connected to saiifl core piece, a cap,a thread on said cap adapted to connect said cap to a screw, and athread on said screw adapted an opposite direction to that in which thepnrccseset forth.

15. In a device of c 'arscter described, ceasing, a core piece, cap, ascrew, :1 thread on said cap, sairi. thread adapted to engage theexterior surface or" the end of said core on said screw adapted to screwinto said core piece whenturned in the opposite direction to that inwhich the ca turned Wl'ien being screwed on said co 1 recs, the threadon the cap and thre-d on tip screw heing of L A 8 thread iiiiferentpitches, 1 nnr osc set forth.

A casing prcvidcd w L number of coves, a core provided "vlti'l n31 i1ear of gnooves, a series or" disiis, some of which have projectionswhich enter the grooves in the casing and some of which have projectionswhich enter the grooves in the core, each disk connected to the casingiieing connected "ti-91ml engagement with one of said ngaged with thecore, a can having it thereon adapted to connect the cap the core whenturned in one direction, a screw having a, threari thereon adapted toscrew into said core, when turned in direction opposite to that inwhi-chthecap is turned, aprotecting member connected to said casing, a pivotedli it connected to said i e ember, and means tor securing the core tothe body of a vehicle and the end the link to the running gear.

1'7. a friction device of the chwactcr described, the combination of reling and a core, .a plurality of paraiiei ciisks Within the casing andhaving juxtaposed 'riction surfaces, one of said disks being engagedwith the casing and the other with the core, a cap adjusta bl engagedwith one of said parts to close the casing, a spring subject toadjustable corner-session o the cap and bearing against the con iguousdis 4 nd means for preventing the eminent-m unscrewing of the cap. I

Signed at New Yer-l5 in the countoi New York State of New York this 17thday of February A. D. 1906. Q

LEW'ES H.

Witnesses FnANK Asnrinr ARTH R L. McY

I tivei y' fixed and revoluhie parts presenting a cas-

